Incoming 2015 College Football Freshmen with Famous Parents
It’s only natural to find players with talented fathers dotting college football rosters. That phenomenon has been happening for years. Fathers pass down their athletic talents to their sons, and many professional athletes have the means and knowledge to mold their sons into standout players in their own right.
2015 was no different on the college football landscape. A number of second-generation stars will take the field for programs across the nation this fall, but one of the most intriguing players is the son of one of this generation’s most famous rap artists.
Regardless, the sons of famous athletes and entertainers should make an impact this season and beyond. Here’s a look at some famous offspring who’ll make headlines in the college football world in 2015.
UCLA WR Cordell Broadus
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One of the most interesting recruitments of the Class of 2015 involved the intersection of football and hip-hop. 4-star wide receiver Cordell Broadus attracted plenty of attention for his football skills, earning offers from Arizona State, LSU and Southern California, Florida State, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Miami (Florida) and Baylor.
Of course, he attracted more by being the son of rapper Snoop Dogg, a noted fan of the Trojans who has made multiple appearances at games and practices.
Broadus stands 6’2”, 195 pounds and has solid physicality, although he could stand to put on some weight. He chose UCLA, disappointing his father, who said he’d support his son and get rid of his USC gear.
"I'm throwing all my USC draws away. I'm 100,000 percent UCLA now," Snoop told ESPNU following the signing, per SBNation.
Broadus will have some famous company on the Bruins roster, as Justin Combs, the son of Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, is a UCLA cornerback.
Texas RB Kirk Johnson
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Texas is one of college football’s most storied programs, so it says something when you’re one of the program’s all-time greats. Johnnie Johnson can make that case, though. The former Texas safety was a two-time unanimous All-American and was picked No. 17 overall in the 1980 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He was an All-Pro selection in 1983 and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Now, his legacy will live on through his sons, both of whom will play for Texas. Kirk, a running back, has signed with the Longhorns, and brother Collin, a wide receiver, is a 2016 Texas commitment.
Kirk ran for 1,048 yards as a senior and is a powerful back with good vision and acceleration and movement in the open field. He could be a strong immediate contributor to the Texas backfield this fall, paving the way for Collin to join him in 2016.
Texas QB Kai Locksley
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When Kai Locksley flipped his commitment from Florida State to Texas, it was considered a major recruiting victory for Charlie Strong and the Longhorns program. After watching Tyrone Swoopes’ uneven efforts as the 2014 starter, it is clear that Texas needs quarterback depth, and Locksley provides an athletic option.
He stands 6’3”, 190 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. He also has solid bloodlines. His father is Maryland offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. While Mike struggled as New Mexico’s head coach, getting fired after two-plus seasons and a 2-26 record, he is a well-respected recruiter and offensive coordinator who has made stops at Maryland, Florida and Illinois.
Kai Locksley has spent his entire life around college football, and while it’s not clear if he’ll challenge Swoopes immediately, he’ll make a contribution early in his career.
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Tennessee DT Kahlil McKenzie
4 of 9When Kahlil McKenzie signed with Tennessee, it was a big pickup for Butch Jones and the Volunteers in a number of ways. McKenzie is regarded as the nation’s No. 6 overall player, per 247Sports, and a 5-star recruit. He is also 6’5”, 354 pounds and capable of making an immediate impact this fall on Tennessee’s defensive line.
His father, Reggie, currently serves as the Oakland Raiders general manager. Reggie was a Tennessee linebacker who played from 1985-92 with the Raiders, Phoenix Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers before joining the Green Bay Packers front office, where he worked from 1994-2011, eventually becoming the director of football operations.
If Kahlil excels at Tennessee, it’d surely thrill Reggie to turn in a draft card with his son’s name on it.
Texas A&M QB Kyler Murray
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Kyler Murray’s recruitment was one of the most hotly contested of the 2015 recruiting cycle, with Texas seriously pursuing the Texas A&M commitment before the highly touted 5-star quarterback eventually honored his commitment and signed with the Aggies.
It was a coup for coach Kevin Sumlin’s staff and a natural move for Kyler and the Murray family. Murray’s father, Kevin, established himself as one of the Aggies’ all-time great quarterbacks from 1983-86. Murray won two Southwest Conference championships, was a two-time All-American and left college as A&M’s all-time winningest quarterback.
Kevin molded Kyler in his image as a mobile quarterback with an excellent arm, and now Kyler has the chance to take A&M even further than his father did.
Michigan State LB Cassius Peat
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Todd Peat was not highly regarded coming out of Northern Illinois in 1987. The offensive lineman was an 11th-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, but he carved out a nice career for himself, spending parts of six seasons in the NFL.
He has also carved out a solid legacy with a football-playing family. All three of his sons were FBS-level recruits. Andrus Peat excelled as a Stanford left tackle and is a likely first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
Cassius Peat, a linebacker, carved out his own path. Long committed to UCLA, Cassius considered Arizona State but ultimately committed to Michigan State on national signing day. He stands 6’4”, 235 pounds and could be an impact player for Mark Dantonio’s Spartans.
Michigan OL Jon Runyan Jr.
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Jon Runyan did great things with his opportunity at Michigan. The former Wolverine offensive lineman was a fourth-round pick in the 1996 NFL draft and played 14 seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles and San Diego Chargers, starting 190 consecutive games.
He also spent two terms as a Republican congressman from New Jersey before stepping down in 2014.
Now, Runyan’s son, Jon Runyan Jr., will carry on his legacy at Michigan. He stands 6’4” and 276 pounds and while a redshirt is likely this season, his father has laid a strong legacy for him to live up to.
Texas RB Chris Warren
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From 1990 to 2000, Chris Warren ran over NFL linebackers and defenders with a powerful running style as a tailback with the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. He surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in four consecutive seasons from 1992 to 1995 and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
His son, Chris Warren, chose between two of his former locales, picking between Texas and Washington for college. The younger Warren chose Texas via a coin flip—yes, really, a coin flip, per Colt Barber of Horns 247.
"I thought I had something in my mind earlier this morning, but as I was driving up I didn’t know for sure so I just flipped a coin to make sure and I went with it," Warren told Barber.
He rushed for 2,329 yards as a senior last fall, and if he’s as productive as his father was, Charlie Strong will feel like a very lucky man.
Michigan TE Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
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Longtime Michigan fans remember Tyrone Wheatley fondly. As a two-sport Wolverine athlete in the mid-1990s, Wheatley established himself as one of the best tailbacks in program history, earning three First Team All-Big Ten honors and finishing with 47 career touchdowns.
His son, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., is bigger than his father, standing 6’6”, 250 pounds, and he is considered a 4-star tight end recruit. It wasn’t always a natural for Wheatley to attend Michigan, but once new Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh hired Wheatley away from the NFL’s Buffalo Bills to become his new running backs coach, his son’s signature on a national letter of intent made a lot more sense.
Tyrone Jr. picked Michigan over UCLA and will have a chance to forge a new chapter in the family legacy alongside his father in Ann Arbor.
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